Border travel restrictions will be lifted in Botswana at the start of next month following Zimbabwe's Cabinet approval of the gradual re-opening of its land borders. 

"Cross-border public passenger transport operations were suspended during the first national lockdown (March 2020) due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and this affected many businesses especially cross-border passenger road transport operations,” Botswana's Ministry of Transport and Communications stated. 

It continued, "As part of government's effort to open up the economy, a decision to lift the suspension of cross border passenger road transport operations has been taken, as a means to provide services to members of the public and business community across the borders.” 

Borders at Beitbridge, Plumtree, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, Nyamapanda and Forbes will be re-opened. The Plumtree, Maitengwe, Mpoengs and Mlambapele borders are shared between Zimbabwe and Botswana. 

The statement said, "The following conditions shall apply; abide with Covid-19 protocols, clean the interior and exterior of the vehicles with water and soap or sanitise two to three times a day or after every trip. In addition, a passenger shall present a valid 72-hour negative Covid-19 result to either bus operator, conductor or driver before boarding the bus and a person shall not be allowed to use public transport without wearing a mask.” 

In addition, several routes are to be reopened as well, including Tlokweng Border Gaborone-Johannesburg, Gaborone-Zeerust, Gaborone-Rustenburg, Ramatlabama Border, Gaborone-Mafikeng, Lobatse-Mafikeng, Martins drift Border, and Palapye-Johanesburg.